"Decided to start looking for shin protection after a painful pedal to shin wreck on my bike. These are so comfortable I forget I’m wearing them while riding."
"Recently tried these out for my wheelies and combos and they feel amazing, I have way more confidence when going for tricks and am not nearly as worried about busting my shins up"
"My son says his cold sleeve is awesome! Best way to ice your shinners!"
Shin and Calf Support
Lower legs take two kinds of punishment. There's the hit: a pedal to the shin, a board flipping into you, a slam on the ramp. And there's the grind: miles on pavement or a court that leave the front or inside of the shin sore, the ache most people call shin splints. Our shin gear covers both.
How to Choose
For hits and long sessions, wear the sleeve. Our shin sleeves pair knitted compression around the calf with a neoprene pad over the shinbone. The pad takes the sting out of pedal strikes and board hits, and the compression hugs the shin and calf on runs and hikes. It stops at the ankle, so your socks and shoes stay the same. It isn't a hard-shell guard like the ones worn for soccer.
Afterward, use the Ice Sleeve. The Ice Sleeve is built for the knee, but the gel stays flexible when frozen, so it moves down to the calf and shin for 15 to 20 minutes of cold, or heat if you warm it. Every ice sleeve we make is on our ice sleeves page.
Shin Splints or a Hit?
Soreness that builds over a run along the inside edge of the shin is what most people mean by shin splints. Easing back on mileage, checking your shoes and wearing compression while you build back up is what most runners do. If you'd rather have a sock that covers the foot too, see compression socks for shin splints. For bruises from boards and pedals, the pad is the point. For compression on the calf without the pad, see calf compression sleeves.
Sizing
Measure around the widest part of your calf. 13 inches or less is M, 13 to 15.5 inches is L, 15.5 to 17 inches is XL, and 17 inches or more is XXL. For a tighter fit, size down; for a looser one, size up. The sleeve stands about 11 to 12 inches tall, depending on size. The Ice Sleeve is sized by circumference too, from 12 to 20 inches across four sizes, so measure where you'll wear it most.
When to See a Provider
Have it checked if the pain sits in one spot on the bone, hurts to press, or keeps getting worse even on rest days, since that can be a stress fracture rather than shin splints. The same goes for a hit that leaves a deep cut, a lump that won't settle, or swelling that keeps spreading.
Working up or down the leg? See our knee sleeves and braces or our ankle sleeves and ice, or start at shop by body part.
FAQs
Is the Compression Shin Sleeve a shin guard?
It's a compression sleeve with a neoprene pad over the shin, so it takes the sting out of pedal strikes and board hits. It isn't a hard-shell guard like the ones worn for soccer, and it's slim enough that riders forget it's on.
Will a shin sleeve help with shin splints?
Many runners and skaters wear it when shin splints flare up. Snug compression around the shin and calf keeps the area feeling supported while you run, skate or hike. Pair it with good shoes, a gradual build back up in mileage and stretching, and if the pain is sharp or sits in one spot, have a provider check it.
Is it good for BMX and mountain biking?
Yes. Pedal strikes are one of the main reasons riders wear it. The neoprene pad sits over the shinbone, and the sleeve stays put without straps, so riders wear it for whole sessions.
How do I size the shin sleeve?
Measure the widest part of your calf and match it to the chart: M is 13 inches or less, L 13 to 15.5, XL 15.5 to 17, XXL 17 or more. Between sizes, go down for a tighter fit or up for a looser one.
Can I ice my shins or calves with the Ice Sleeve?
Yes. It's built for the knee, but the gel stays flexible when frozen, so it can move down to the calf. Freeze it for at least 2 hours, keep each session to 15 to 20 minutes, and leave a break between sessions. It can also be warmed for heat; follow the instructions that come with it.